Gaffney – Gaffney High School has 20 different teams in its athletic program, so the fact that it
will be bringing in just two new head coaches for the 2023-24 school year shows some stability.
One of the head coaches will be a new face to Gaffney, while the other is quite familiar. Charles
Blue comes from an assistant’s role at Dorman to be the new boys basketball coach. The other new head
coach is Maddie Pruitt, who takes over the softball program after serving the past three years as an
assistant under former head coach Jessica Ramsey.
Blue was an assistant under Thomas Ryan, who has led Dorman to five of the eight AAAAA
state championships handed out, including this past season. Blue was also on the staff at Spartanburg
Day when one Zion Williamson was there.
“Coach Blue brings a lot of experience,” said Gaffney athletic director Malcolm Long. “Dorman
is a powerhouse in AAAAA. Coach Ryan spoke highly of Coach Blue when I spoke with him.”
Blue inherits a team that went 5-18 overall last season and 0-8 in Region 2-AAAAA, which was
won by Dorman.
Pruitt takes over a team that went 8-10 last season but made the state playoffs for the second
season in a row. The Lady Indians went 1-2 in their district tournament.
“Coach Pruitt’s knowledge of the game is strong,” Long said. “She runs her own travel team, and
she had 23 young ladies at the first clinic being put on with her as head coach. I like the direction the
program was going under Coach Ramsey, and I believe Coach Pruitt will continue it.”
Dan Jones is back for his 14 th season as football head coach. He led the Indians to a 9-4 record
last season after guiding them to a state championship and perfect 15-0 record the year before.
Jones’ coaching staff includes offensive coordinator Donnie Littlejohn, co-defensive
coordinators Randy Birch and Bryce Smiley, Jeff Allen, Brad Phillips, Ric Scott, Wayne Starks,
Dave Reams, Chris Miller, Kevin Phillips and Brandon Mullins.
The other head coaches are Jeff Mages for baseball, Mark Huff for girls basketball, Jasmine
Smith for competitive cheer, Cameron Downey for both boys and girls cross country, Zach Bridges for
boys golf, Scott Simmons for boys soccer, Kelly Ellis for both boys and girls swimming, David Reams
for boys tennis, Leighlan Camp for girls tennis, Eric Agnew for both boys and girls track and field,
Bradlee Cooper for volleyball, Lily Cazel for girls soccer, Tina Frye for girls golf and Daniel
Grellman for wrestling.
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